How can you empower a peer support client to own their recovery journey?

There was a time when I lost literary everything. I was going through a divorce, recently homeless, jobless and no driver’s license. I had nowhere to go but up because I was at the very bottom . Instead of jumping into a relationship after divorce I learned how to be alone. I started the process of getting my license back and with a new attitude about life I met my now wife. Together we built a very successful business and had a beautiful little baby girl. We then decided to write a book about my life experiences and a children’s book soon followed. Our faith in God helped up take the leap of faith in making our dreams become our reality. Although we had many bumps in our roads to success we didn’t give up.

Trust can be gained with a peer by offering trust. Communicate confidence in their ability to be the expert on their own experience and desires. Only offer advice when requested or ask before offering it. Validate their feelings and help them feel heard.

Cuando compartimos nuestras experiencias es importante no secuestrar el dolor ajeno. Para ello es importante pedir permiso para compartir o decir algo del estilo "Yo he tenido experiencias en ese sentido, si en algun momento quieres que hablemos de ello dímelo". Además es importante respetar los tiempos de la otra persona y ser empático con qué puede gestionar. No debemos presionar o intentar acelerar el proceso. Es importante detectar qué información está preparado para integrar y le va a ayudar en el proceso y cuál no.

Empowering those we support on their recovery journey is about understanding it is their path to walk, not ours. Let them realize that the power is within them all along and we are just there to support them and let remind them of their own strenght.

I would tell them that everyone has in common that we are all in a state of recovery. Motivated not by fear or guilt, but always love, they can see themselves as on a journey. It's a journey of discovery that they can make for themselves a brighter future, a more hopeful and healthful life. Fear and guilt greatly will impede their journey. They can't achieve what they plan for their life to be, with fear and guilt at the helm. They must themselves take the helm, as they alone can own the direction of their lives of recovery, barring unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. It is a recipe for success laid out in the serenity prayer: Give me courage to change what I can, accept what I can't, and the wisdom to know the difference.

One thing that I have found useful is to ask powerful interested follow up questions and take the time for your conversational partner to answer. Yes, but how are your really doing? How did that make you feel. What is it that would be helpful to you? Why do you think this did not happen (or was not given) to you yet? Ask more questions, give less advice or stories.

In the realm of peer support, one of our most crucial roles is to empower our clients to take ownership of their recovery journey. But how do we effectively do this? Here are some strategies that have proven invaluable: Active Listening and Empathy: The foundation of empowerment is understanding. By actively listening and showing empathy, we create a safe space where clients feel heard and validated. This encourages them to open up and trust the process. Strength-Based Approach: Focus on the client's strengths, not just their challenges. Highlighting their abilities, resilience, and past successes builds confidence and a sense of competence, crucial for taking ownership of their recovery.

In my experience, everyone has a God-given gift. It's up to you to decide what your gift is and capitalize on your gift. Maintaining positivity while you trying to achieve a goal is critical to your success. The words, “I can’t” should not be part of your conversation when trying to reach a goal. I believe positive energy and positive words create a positive environment at work or at home.

One valuable approach to “growth mindset” is including how the body or energy is an equal part to “growth mindset”. Congruence in thinking differently happens with noticing that growth feels in the body like stress. There strategies to letting the mind and body grow together. If you are focused on thinking differently and not seeing change you want this would be the gap closer.

As a very shy person I have always kept to myself. I learned very quickly that I had to come out of my shell to grow my business. I started with joining my local chamber of commerce and then started to support my church and community businesses. After doing that I hired someone to create a website for my business and joined all the social media sites online.

Lista de valores ratificada por técnicos de apoyo mutuo de la Asociación Internacional de Técnicos de Apoyo Mutuo (iNAPS, 2013): 1. El apoyo mutuo es voluntario. 2. El apoyo mutuo es mutuo y recíproco. 3. El apoyo mutuo es de autoridad y responsabilidad compartida. 4. El apoyo mutuo se enfoca en las fortalezas y no en las dificultades. 5. El apoyo mutuo es trasparente. 6. El apoyo mutuo se centra en la persona y no en los servicios de salud. 7. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo son optimistas. 8. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo son de mente abierta. 9. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo son empáticos. 10. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo son respetuosos. 11. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo facilitan el cambio. 12. Los técnicos de apoyo mutuo son honestos y directos.

One thing that I have found helpful to share either others is how valuable my lived experience has been when working to establish a rapport with a new member attending a peer support group. I don’t have to find words to say to them to provide support such as, “I know how it feels” or “I have gone through that too.” Those statements are never helpful because we each have our own journey and our responses our relative to that. But what cannot be ignored is hearing another individual share their experience that has a resemblance to my current situation and put words to feelings I couldn’t. It’s about making connections to help lift eachother up by our commonality and begin to heal so we can turn around and pay it forward to the next person.

Los programas de apoyo mutuo engloban diferentes actividades que no han sido estandarizadas hasta la fecha. Incluyen actividades grupales, programas formativos y de acompa?amiento basados en la participación de técnicos de apoyo mutuo, así como actividades de escucha activa, acompa?amiento en el ámbito laboral y sanitario, de mediación y de educación, entre otras.

The impossible is always possible if you don't give up. You never want to think, what if? John Quincy Adams - Try and fail, but don't fail to try.